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Did you give birth without drugs? What was your experience like?

There's no shame in admitting you would rather slice off your arm than deliver a baby without the help of heavy drugs. When I gave birth to my first child, there was no doubt in my mind that I would get an epidural -- if it's good enough for more than 50 percent of women who give birth in hospitals, I thought, it's good enough for me. And it did deliver what it promised: my contractions were so painless, I had to be told when to push.

But the epi also made my body a bit of a wreck after birth -- a shaky, feverish, low blood-pressured wreck. How do I know it was the epidural, you ask? Oh, because when I delivered my son a few days ago -- and I had every intention of getting drugs -- I was denied an epi because I had dilated too quickly. My recovery was amazingly quick and I felt great right away -- but this happy discovery didn't make labor any less frightening. Here are 21 thoughts you just might have if, like me, you discover -- surprise! -- they'll be no drugs for you, missy.

1. I was told contractions are painful, but no one told me I'd feel like I'm dying. When do I get my epidural?

2. These contractions are probably normal. I must have an unusually low tolerance for pain.

3. Thank the lord -- the nurse is here to poke my arm and get it ready for the IV. Miracle drugs are on the way!

4. Aren't contractions supposed to be five minutes apart this soon into labor? These seem to be coming every five seconds.

5. Oh, stop. Of course they aren't coming that fast. If they were, a doctor would have noticed and admitted me to the birthing room. Doctors are on top of this stuff.

6. Why does my husband's face resemble a hush puppy every time he looks at the monitor?

7. Okay, seriously, why did my husband just run to get a doctor? Did I marry a drama queen?

8. Holy crap -- OUCH! -- there's no way that was normal.

9. Why is the doctor suddenly rushing to get me onto a wheelchair and into the labor room? I was just 5 cm dilated, what, 20 minutes ago? I have oodles of time still. I'm not ready!

10. I'm never going to be able to get up from this bed and onto a wheelchair. Where is my damn epi?!

11. Whew, safely made it to the birthing room. Now I'll finally get my epi.

15. You're telling me your anesthesiologist was BUSY tonight? That's why I can't get drugs? How long does it take to poke someone with a needle? What about ME?!

16. You can't be serious. I can't push without drugs. You have to give me something. Is there anything you can give me?

17. There is something you can give me, but it will make my baby drowsy and you don't recommend it. Give it to me anyway!

18. On second thought, don't give it to me. I can't hurt my baby. Even though I simultaneously want to die and kill every person in this room right now. My baby is the only person here I actually like.

19. I don't know if I can do this, but here we go. I have no choice. Push time. Oh God, this hurts.

20. I'm doing it! This is the worst pain of my life, but it's happening. And they can already see my baby's head -- so soon!

21. It's over. It's over. Sweet lord, it's over. My baby is perfect and alert and beautiful and, thank God, it's over. My husband better remember this moment and brag about it to anyone who will listen from now until the end of time.

Oh geez. I wasn't 'forced' to givw birth without drugs. I made the choice to deliver naturally after doing research on side effects and risks and deciding it just wasn't worth it. I've had two natural deliveries and have no desire to get drugged for another. It wasn't the worst pain of my life, it wasn't frightening or scary. I had my husband to help and support me and after the baby was born, how labor felt wasn't all that important.

Home water birth and it was amazing. More comfortable than either of my drugged hospital births I felt great during and after and baby was so much more alert (although I would have and did argue thay my other babies were alert after drugged births)

I don't get why people make natural birth sound so scary. It's NOT that bad. I had epidurals with my first three births, nothing with my fourth. The natural birth was so much better. If I would have known that it wasn't nearly as painful and scary as I had been led to believe, I would have had them ALL natural.

Consider this- women gave birth with no drugs or epidurals for millions of years before those things were even an option and they were just fine. It's what our bodies were made to do!

Yes, I did twice and they were wonderful experience and if we have another one. I will have another home birth. I had an epidural with my second and it was the worst experience and will never ever again have one.

I had a home water birth without drugs. It was a hard, long delivery, but it was my first birth. I think if it had been my third or so delivery, it would have been easier.I was very young, and my body just wasn't ready for delivering a baby. My BF and I had taken birthing classes where we learned breathing techniques and using a darkened room with candles and music. We thought we had done everything right, but after my water broke and the hard transition contractions started, I lost my concentration and couldn't focus on my breathing. Also there were lots of people at our house who kept coming in to see how the delivery was progressing. I was in hard labor for 36 hours before the baby came out. I'm pregnant again and plan to use the water bath again. I'm older now and ready for this baby to be born.

I had an epi with my first that didn't take and my epi hurt worse than the delivery. I don't know if it actually hurt worse but the noise it made drives me nuts to this day. I've talked to other people and their backs never made a wincing noise while getting the epi but mine did. Also they were sitting upright and they just rolled me to my side so my spine was flat and not open like sitting up and hunching over would give you.

Anyone else here get a odd noise with their epi?

I'm going natural this time since I had such a bad experience with the epi last time. I also got burnt from the removal of the tape. The nurse took skin with the tape, not fun!

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